On a corner of one of the busy intersections in Tokyo, in an area with many foreign multinational offices, is an Italian restaurant where I had lunch with Peter David, CEO of "e-square"

I had met him first during a CSR symposium held by Care International in Tokyo last fall, where he articulated the need for recognition of CSR practices in Japan in the most impeccable Japanese I had ever heard for a foreigner.

"e-square" provides CSR consulting and LOHAS marketing research for many Japanese multinationals. How does he succeed?

1) He speaks their language: He speaks CSR that Japanese comapnies will understand, beginning with changes in corporate philosophies and conduct instead of a bunch of MDGs
2) He knows the peole: E-square has piloted the LOHAS marketing in Japan, and understanding of these consumers can be leveraged for more social-business related projects, wich brings us to the third point...
3) He understands business: He knows that a win-win situation with profit is still the key for social business. and it's not just the success that makes the difference, it's when you can empathize with the struggles of a for-profit that you can really find the solutions to social-business strategies.

E-square
http://www.e-squareinc.com/

Sumitomo Chemicals is the first Japanese company to join the Global Business coalition to fight HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria. They have worked hard for many years in fighting malaria with their long-lasting anti-malaria bed nets. They have currently produced 30 million bed nets to meet the objectives of the Roll Back Malaria global campaign.

What will it take to get more Japanese comapnies on board?

I was talking with Ms. Joelle Tanguy Managing Director at the GBC and I told her that:
1) it's difficult for HIV/AIDS to register here as an open intimate issue (although the pro-bono campaig during U2's concert in Japan on World Aids Day made some headlines, there is still very little personal stories comming out from the Japanese public.... it just doesn't exist, or it's being hid by the Japanese government)
2) GBC has got to speak the CSR language that Japanese companies use.
3) GBC is not known, but nor is the Global Compact or the MDGs registered well among both corporations and the public. Partnering with publication companies (Nikkei, SOTOKOTO, etc) or development organizations (JICA, USAID, etc) or academics (Keio University, Tokyo University, etc) is a must in Japan, and leveraging the trust they have is key.

And let's hope that we will see a stronger Civil Society grow in Japan with the comming of the G8 Summit in July 2008!

Babies are very truthful about their emotions. And sometimes we adults need to learn from what simlicity babies teach us in understanding emotions of ourselves and others.

I went to meet Roots of Empathy during my visit to Toronto in January, led by an amazing social entrepreneur who is devoted to early childhood education. Mary Gordon, the founder, is a wonderful lady who when sitting inside a room with kindergarten children ages three to four, will give you all the insights into how a young child learns about "empathy" from a baby that visits their classroom.

I personally have never had much problem expressing and communicating my emotions, however in Japan it is usually very difficult to be open about sharing personal feelings. And Ms. Gordon commented that when they had a Roots of Empathy classroom in Japan, one of the difficulties the kindergarten teacher's faced was to share and express their emotions to young children.

Japan has a language which protects people's privacy. For example we never ask the taxi driver or a lady who takes your order in a cafe "Hi" How are you?". People's privacy are expected to be respected in this country.

I feel however that maybe it is this "respect" that estranges people and especially young children. There must be more trust in being able to share personal feelings with other people in this country.

Which brings me to the last point that Ms. Gordon emphasized strongly: "I will work only with people I can trust"

Roots of Empathy HP
http://www.rootsofempathy.org/

Ms. Yoshie Komuro is a beautiful lady with so much energy and passion!! So many of her words just go straight to your heart, especially women in Japan.

She is one of the key social entrepreneurs changing Japan through the working life-styles of women. Last July she started a company called WorkLifeBalance in Japan which is dedicated to supporting women who are on childcare leave, or are raising children while they work.

Her latest program allows users to receive and exchange information on topics such as daycare facilities and preparations for returning to work, as well as e-learning programs for English and computer skills.

She commented in a recent seminar group held for students and new graduates, that one of the reasons why her program has been finding so much need is because of the implimentation of the "Next Generation Law" enacted in July 2003, which obligates companies to provide a children and parenting friendly working environment.

There is so much need for women and men in Japan to feel free, unburdened, and supported in raising children. And so much that adults learn from being with babies and children! I find it so unnatural to be in Shibuya (region in Tokyo for youngsters) and to never come accross a mother with babies in a stroller or old grandma/pas with walking sticks.

We should all realize that a natural world is one in which you find animals with four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening....at all times during the day and night!!

Article on Ms. Yoshie Komuro (CEO of WorkLifeBalance)
http://www.japantoday.com/jp/feature/1179

When the Skoll Foundation started registrations for their Skoll Forum for Social Entrepreneurs from around the world (taking place in Oxford this March), seats were all full within that day. Amazing how much attention this social entrepreneur gathering now holds!

http://www.skollfoundation.org/skollcentre/skoll_forum.asp

Last year there were only two Japanese attending the forum.
Arisa, my friend doing African studies at Oxford, and Mr. Kaneda (best wishes for your marriage!) who is responsible for CSR at Daiwa Securities.

This year we will again not have many Japanese on board the forum, but the recognition that it is taking place is certainly become more well known within the Social Entrepreneur Community in Japan. It's just a little difficult to find ourselves all the way accross the earth to attend the forum.

Nikkei Shimbun (largest business daily in Japan, and in the world) seems to also be interested in having a featured series in their evening edition on Social Entrepreneurs!!! Yeah!!! It's amazing how one article at a time the passion is spreading!!!